Is that the pre-cut one you do yourself .. @200 I can afford no problem
but will it protect ? or can a typical non-skill person like myself can put it on ?
Clear Bra worth my $700 ?
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but will it protect ? or can a typical non-skill person like myself can put it on ?
There are other brands as good as 3M film; some are better some are worse. You can get them pre-cut on ebay for various prices, starting about $ 100 per hood (1/3 of the hood). Install it yourself. It's a good excercise. Once you've done one the next ones will be a breeze. Bras can always be easily removed and replaced periodically. I have always installed 1/3 of the hood with excellent results. You can use dishwasher liquid, mixture of rubbing alcohol and dish liquid (for sides). There are several detailed instructions, how to do it on u-tube. I haven't put them on headlights, quarter panels nor bumper. Bumper may get scratched and you would have to replace the film more frequently.
Look at my results!
Look at my results!
Attachments
2012 OUTBACK 2.5 LIMITED SILVER ICE Metallic, moon and nav free
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That was the installed price by the best installer in Cleveland OH. Venture Shield is much better than 3M, so much better in fact, 3M bought them out. It is thicker than Clear Bra. I have it on my EVO X for about 3.5 years. Very worth it. I have way more coverage on my EVO X than the OB. I learned from my 2011 where the impacts happen. If I was to do it again for the 2012 I would have gotten the front 1/4 of the fenders done also. I took a few hits there. I don't really keep my cars long enough to matter. And the lighter the car, the more visible the line. On a dark car you can barely see the film unless you are on the perfect angle. It is a DIY project if you can get them pre cut. I would not buy film and try to cut it on the car. Too much risk if you don't have experience. I had my guy wrap the hood around the leading edge so it tucks under the hood.
You seemed to be in the know!
Last time I was in the 3M Automotive Products labs, it looked to me as if Venture Shield had the same specs as other 3M protective films, only the film thickness was different. Venture Shield is just another trade name for my employers products (same as Scotch and Tartan brands), Or 3M Body Repair Products and Bondo, or 3M Automotive Care Products and Meguiar’s.
3M does not purchase companies because their products are better, but because they either compliment the existing product lines or they provide a market penetration that 3M desires to have.
Whoever told you that 3M bought Venture Shield because their product was better than 3M's had no clue what they were talking about!
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Ok here is why not to, I got the full front, fenders, mirrors, A-posts done the second day I brought my Outback home. Loved it, looks good, can hardly tell it's there on my white Outback.
My wife daily drives our Outback to work everyday, 54 miles each way, all highway with tons of road hazards, it's a battlezone with all the contstruction trucks and semi's. Anyway a truck kicked up a stone about the size of a quarter at 70 mph that actually slightly pierced the 3M Clear Bra material. The dime sized stone actually put a very noticible dent in the plastic front bumper to the left of the grille and headlight.
Put it this way, the Clear Bra did it's job as there is no scratch, but now there is a dent in the PLASTIC and the Bra material is slightly stretched and snagged. If I want to fix the dent of which will reqire paint and filler the old Bra will need to be removed, then bumper repaired and painted.
My wife will then have to take a chance for 30 days after after the repair because according to the Clear Bra installation companies you can't put a Clear Bra on surface that has been painted for 30 days or until the pain has to cure.
I had a car guy buddy tell me like this, unless this is a car that you are going to put in a museum and maybe take out and drive to a car show once in awhile (Which I doubt anyone will do with their Outback Lol) don't get a clear bra. Think about it like this, every car would be expected to have some rock chips at the end of say 5-7 years of ownership.
Here is what my Clear Bra looks like after a dime size rock got kicked up on the highway at 70 mph. This is also the VentureShield 3M material, I paid $800 for the entire kit two years ago. I had a conventional vinyl bra (The Old School ugly type) I would not have had any damage at all where the rock hit.
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My wife daily drives our Outback to work everyday, 54 miles each way, all highway with tons of road hazards, it's a battlezone with all the contstruction trucks and semi's. Anyway a truck kicked up a stone about the size of a quarter at 70 mph that actually slightly pierced the 3M Clear Bra material. The dime sized stone actually put a very noticible dent in the plastic front bumper to the left of the grille and headlight.
Put it this way, the Clear Bra did it's job as there is no scratch, but now there is a dent in the PLASTIC and the Bra material is slightly stretched and snagged. If I want to fix the dent of which will reqire paint and filler the old Bra will need to be removed, then bumper repaired and painted.
My wife will then have to take a chance for 30 days after after the repair because according to the Clear Bra installation companies you can't put a Clear Bra on surface that has been painted for 30 days or until the pain has to cure.
I had a car guy buddy tell me like this, unless this is a car that you are going to put in a museum and maybe take out and drive to a car show once in awhile (Which I doubt anyone will do with their Outback Lol) don't get a clear bra. Think about it like this, every car would be expected to have some rock chips at the end of say 5-7 years of ownership.
Here is what my Clear Bra looks like after a dime size rock got kicked up on the highway at 70 mph. This is also the VentureShield 3M material, I paid $800 for the entire kit two years ago. I had a conventional vinyl bra (The Old School ugly type) I would not have had any damage at all where the rock hit.
3M ClearBra was installed on my '13 limited OB the day I drove it off the dealership. It was probably the best investment I made for the car protection besides wheel arch and body side moldings. My car has been through a couple of sand storms, gravel hits and other loose stuff that flies head-on on the highways. Not a single scratch or dent on the original finish protected by that 3M film. Highly recommended :29:
I have used 3M product to protect area under luggage rack feet on my vw (installed myself) and it has been working great for 1-1/2 years although it is a bit tricky getting all bubbles out as well as getting it to make small tight radius turns. Pros probably don't have any problem doing it though.
Got it, it's awesome, and yep, it's $50
I recently got the XPEL self healing clear bra put on my white 2013 SAP and it seems like pretty good stuff and has a 10 year yellowing, cracking, etc warranty (I believe 3m is around 5yrs?). I had it installed for $600 and that included 18" hood wrapped under leading edge, full bumper, a little of the fenders, headlights, fog lights, A-pillars and the roofline up to my sunroof. I live in AZ and did this after only 3 days of owning my outback and I already had a couple small rock chips so I defiantly think it will be worth it and seems to provide good protection so far.
I'm just waiting for them to have one for the 2013's!
Photo of the MagnetBra? Sure, next time I go for a drive I will snap a photo and post it for you.
Cheers,
Hero in a Half Shell
I really want to buy this magnet bra , but I am not 100% sure
it will be a perfect fit since I know 2013 models had a slight re-design...
grill/bumper is different a bit ... but I am not sure if the HOOD is the same
I hope I do not have to be the first one to drop $50 to find out if
it works on the 2013 model as well.
it will be a perfect fit since I know 2013 models had a slight re-design...
grill/bumper is different a bit ... but I am not sure if the HOOD is the same
I hope I do not have to be the first one to drop $50 to find out if
it works on the 2013 model as well.
Yeah I'm on the same boat man! I'm waiting for one to be available too!
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Just to put in my 2 cents. Here were roads are sanded/gravelled from september through to April, The 3m clear film paint protector is pretty much a necessity. THe front of your car would look like it was sand blasted after only one winter without it. While your quoute may be a bit high, the product can be absolutely worth it depending where live and driving conditions.
I emailed magnetbra this morning. They assured me that it would fit the 2013 and since added year 2013 on the website. I'll be ordering that sucker soon!
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